Lighthouse Mews

Architect, Stephen Donald (SDA), was tasked with transforming a builder’s yard into sustainable residential homes in De Beauvoir Town, North London.

He teamed up with Modernarc, a company specialising in bespoke interior and exterior design to assist in the delivery of the project.

One key element of this ambitious build was the timber cladding. The design dictated clean straight lines, as well as a material that would stand up to the demands of a busy city centre location.

That’s where Brimstone came into its own.

Hardwearing and enduring

We recommended Brimstone ash for the project, in part because of its inherent stability and also because it weathers well, even in shaded and potentially polluted city centre environments.

The clean straight lines in the architectural designs called for a stable cladding material that would remain straight over the long term. But it was also important that it didn’t become patchy or blacken – a common problem with more reactive species like cedar and oak.

The fine details

We worked closely with Modernarc to provide exactly the right aesthetic for the project, supplying vertical cladding to a bespoke profile and design.

The layout alternated 20 x 70mm planed square boards with 35 x 35mm projecting fins, each separated by a 5mm gap. The boards and fins were face fixed with stainless steel pins.

In total 2,000 metres of each section were supplied, plus sections for the doors and windows.

Standing the test of time

A year on from installation and the Brimstone cladding has exceeded expectations and still looks the part.

As Andrew Wong from Modernarc said: “It has weathered to a nice silver colour, which we expected, and looks very handsome. Working with the team at Vastern is always a pleasure as they are very helpful and reliable. Deliveries are always on time and they're flexible to fit in with our programme.

More Modernarc projects to come

As Modernarc are keen on hardwearing materials that are sourced locally where possible, Brimstone is a natural choice.

Modernarc’s Paddy Heffernan explained: "We are now building another house immediately adjacent and we are once again using Brimstone."